Episode 72: The First Meeting of Warriors – Brakka and Ellahar
In the midlands of Elysium, on a late afternoon where sunlight pierced through the canopy, Ellahar moved quietly through ancient ruins. He followed faint clues from villagers who had suffered at the hands of corrupted elves, searching for signs of their presence.
It was then that he spotted a towering figure—an orc, broad-shouldered and armed. This was Brakka. Wandering across the kingdom in search of strong opponents, he had followed rumors that a powerful warrior might be hiding here. Feeling another's presence within the stillness of the ruins, Brakka stepped forward, eyes narrowing.
"Who are you? What business have you here?" His voice was low, yet carried a note of challenge.
Ellahar narrowed his eyes in return. "I'm hunting corrupted elves. And you—what is your purpose?"
Brakka gave a faint grin. "I am Brakka. I roam in search of the strong. And you—you look like a warrior worth testing. What say you? Shall we cross blades?"
Ellahar smiled faintly as he drew his sword. "If you seek the strong, these ruins are no place for you. But if it's a challenge you want, I won't turn away."
Steel clashed in the quiet of the ruins. Ellahar's blade moved swift and precise, while Brakka met him with raw strength and reflexes honed in countless battles. Power struck against skill, each gauging the other as equals.
But as the duel grew more heated, Leon appeared, rushing between them. Alarmed at the thought of needless conflict, he raised his voice.
"Enough! There's no reason for us to fight each other!"
Both warriors froze, turning to him. Breathing hard, Leon lowered his own blade and spoke with urgency.
"Ellahar, Brakka—our purpose isn't to cut each other down. We should talk before we shed blood without cause."
Ellahar lowered his sword. Brakka, after a pause, lowered his weapon as well. Ellahar spoke evenly: "My name is Ellahar. I am a swordsman of the Elven Forest. As I said, I hunt corrupted elves."
Brakka nodded. "And I am Brakka, orc mercenary. My goal is to carve my name into Elysium. I only wanted to see if you were truly as strong as you looked."
The two regarded each other in silence, recognition in their eyes. Not enemies, but warriors intrigued by one another.
Brakka laughed heartily. "Next time, let's fight in earnest, Ellahar!"
Ellahar smiled faintly and nodded. "Next time, without interruption."
Acknowledging each other's strength, the two parted ways. Leon, watching them, felt a spark of inspiration. These were men who lived by steel and resolve, bound by mutual respect. Their meeting was brief, but it carried the promise of future clashes yet to come.
**
Episode 73: Ellahar and Leon's Secret Operation
Ellahar and Leon moved quietly through the night, approaching a hidden encampment of corrupted elves. Concealed within the trees and brush, they crept closer, choosing to listen rather than strike.
Ellahar studied the camp's layout, sharp eyes taking in guard rotations and supply caches. Beside him, Leon summoned balanced inner energy, strengthening his body without overstraining any single part. His training had made him steadier, his movements silent as shadow.
Voices drifted from the campfires."We must secure the crystal," one corrupted elf said with conviction. "With it, and the ancient relic, we will restore this land's power."
Another hissed, "But if the kingdom discovers us, they'll interfere. We must act unseen."
Ellahar signaled Leon to move closer. Together they edged forward, listening intently.
"If we gain the relic and the crystal," another voice whispered, "the kingdom's strength will pale before ours. With this land's power reborn, nothing will stop us."
Leon's jaw tightened. These are no mere raiders. They mean to raise a force that threatens the kingdom itself.
Ellahar motioned for retreat. They had what they needed: information. To strike now would be suicide. But as they pulled back, Leon's eyes widened—dozens of corrupted elves patrolled the perimeter, far more than expected.
"Ellahar," Leon whispered, "their numbers are too great. A direct assault would be madness."
Ellahar nodded grimly. "Agreed. We return with this intelligence. The kingdom must be warned, and reinforcements gathered. This will not end with two blades alone."
Slipping back into the forest, they carried with them knowledge that could decide the fate of the Elven Forest. Leon's resolve burned brighter with each step.
"This isn't just reconnaissance," he said. "This is the key to protecting both the kingdom and the Elves. We must deliver this, no matter the cost."
Ellahar met his eyes, voice firm. "Then we return swiftly. With this knowledge, we will bring the corrupted ones to their end."
The night swallowed them as they vanished into the trees, their mission far from over, but their path clear.
**
Episode 74: Reinforcements and a New Operation
After Ellahar and Leon returned to the kingdom, reinforcements were swiftly mobilized. High Commander Halixon began devising a strategy against the corrupted elves' hidden encampment. He issued orders with the cold precision of a veteran strategist.
"We will encircle the camp and press them from all sides," Halixon declared firmly. "One exit will be left open. When they attempt to flee, we'll cut them down. Each unit must fulfill its assigned role without fail."
Leon, following Halixon's command, moved with his assigned squad, focusing on the task at hand. His time with Ellahar had taught him much—responsibility, judgment, and the resolve to act. Now, as part of the reinforcement force, he was determined to give everything he had.
"This isn't just a battle," Leon reminded his comrades. "We're acting on information we fought hard to secure. Strategy matters now more than strength." His words sparked confidence in the soldiers around him, and they steeled themselves for what was to come.
Ellahar, however, trusted his own instincts more than any plan. Though he respected the kingdom's strategy, he chose to move independently. His intention was clear: to get close enough to the enemy's core to uncover what weapons and relics the corrupted elves were truly guarding.
"Leon," Ellahar told him quietly, "I have something I need to see for myself. Stay with the reinforcements. I'll approach the camp alone."
Leon frowned, concern flashing in his eyes. "That's too dangerous, Ellahar. Facing them alone is reckless!"
Ellahar shook his head. "This is my path. Your duty is here—with the soldiers. Focus on what you must do."
Though uneasy, Leon accepted Ellahar's resolve. He knew the elf was more than capable, but worry gnawed at him nonetheless. "Then promise me this—come back alive. Don't let that place swallow you."
Ellahar gave a brief nod and disappeared into the direction of the enemy camp, his thoughts burning with the determination to uncover the truth hidden within.
Meanwhile, Leon readied himself with the reinforcement force. As the soldiers fanned out to surround the camp, the memories of his past battles with Ellahar steadied his heart. He understood now: this mission was not about individual heroics but about each man holding his place for the sake of the whole.
With renewed resolve, Leon tightened his grip on his blade. He would carry out his duty, no matter the cost.
**
Episode 75: Shadows of Disappointment and Conflict
As night descended, Ellahar crept toward the corrupted elves' camp. The din of battle rang faintly in the distance—Elysium's forces were driving their foes toward the open gap as planned. But Ellahar sought a different prize. His target was the leader within.
Stepping into the heart of the camp, he found his quarry waiting.
"I never thought we would meet like this, Ellahar," the corrupted elf said in a low voice. "We walk different paths, but tonight, I have something to say."
Ellahar raised his guard, but he heard an unfamiliar weight in the man's tone. "Speak, then. But the end is already decided."
The corrupted elf sighed deeply. "We have been driven into shadows, forced to hide in the northern forests. Why must we live like this? Humans have forged a mighty empire in Elysium while we scrape by, clinging to survival. Is that our destiny?"
Ellahar hesitated. The question cut deeper than he expected. "Have we truly lost our legacy… reduced to dependents beneath humankind?"
The corrupted elf pressed on. "When the Titans threatened, we fought only under the commands of Elysium's king—Merslin. Now we seek to reclaim our own glory. Through relics of the past, through forbidden power, we will no longer kneel. We will rise again, guided by no one but ourselves."
Ellahar's expression darkened. Doubt stirred in his chest, whispering of disappointment with the Elven Kingdom's decline. "And yet… is this truly the path of salvation? Or is it ruin dressed as freedom?"
Shame and anger flickered in the corrupted elf's eyes. "This is my choice. I will not regret it."
Ellahar drew his sword, his heart heavy with conflict. "Then you'll bear the cost of that choice."
Steel rang once more in the shadows of the camp. The corrupted elf fell beneath Ellahar's blade, his defiance ending in silence. Ellahar gathered what fragments of relics and documents he could find before withdrawing, his mind clouded with unease.
As he walked away, his thoughts churned. Was this truly corruption, or was it a cry of pride twisted by despair? What future remains for our kind if all we do is obey others' crowns?
Though his blade had silenced one enemy, doubt lingered in his heart. Ellahar steeled himself with a vow.
"My path is my own. I will not be consumed by their shadow, nor by despair. Even if my faith falters, I must endure."
With that, he vanished back into the night, carrying both victory and a burden that no blade could cut away.